Ascended the Presidio's Rob Hill via Battery Caulfield Road, passing the Lobos Valley Overlook. Curved round Rob Hill Campground on the south side and onto the short trail that leads to the Fort Scott 'hood and its community garden (pics 1, 2).

Down from the garden to descend a couple of the old stone stairways (third pic). This is what the Dragonfly Creek stone footbridge looks like now: fourth pic.

Dragonfly Creek has been nicely "daylighted" and I could see a small stream of water below as I crossed the bridge to the nursery (fifth pic). The old log stairway (26 steps, sixth pic) is still here. Seventh foto: A planter at the nursery.

http://www.presidio.gov/volunteer/Pages/nursery.aspx Headed east on the Park Trail, continuing up the 98 steps through the forest to the Cemetery Overlook (pics 8, 9, 10, 11).

Out from the Cemetery Overlook's south side to Inspiration Point Overlook (off Arguello) via the bike lane instead of the Bay Area Ridge Trail that's above the road. Last pic: Andy Goldsworthy's Spire sculpture.

At Berkeley Way and Diamond Heights Blvd. is the foot of Onique stairway, just across the street from a steep trail into Glen Canyon. Unsigned Onique is a good long one with three flights. First: Berkeley at Diamond Heights to, again, Berkeley (it curves around), 116 steps; second flight 122 steps, Berkeley to Gold Mine; third flight, Gold Mine up to Topaz, 118, for a total of 356 (pics 1, 2, 3, 4).

The Opalo stairway (again no sign, fifth pic), 83 steps, conveniently takes one from Gold Mine to just behind the Safeway and other buildings in the Diamond Heights Shopping Center.

After a short visit to the Safeway, did a different couple of Canyon trails out from the main 86 stairs that descend from Christopher Park (pics 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11). These were closer to Diamond Height homes, but still came out at the same rock posted about last time (pic 12) that now has a new stairway down one side (pics 13, 14, 15) and extended stairway down the other, both of which lead to the lower Canyon.

Chose the new stairway (68 steps), then north along the shady trail out to where it climbs back up. Instead of back down again to the oft-raved-about "hidden" north trail, continued along behind long-legged homes and their backyards to where the trail ends at a short stairway: 13 steps to start, out to the first street, Turquoise (no street sign at the top: 16th pic).

Immediately across the street are 52 more steps up to Amber (pic 17), again no street sign in view. Turned right on Amber a block or so to Coralino, up again to the shopping center area, 130 steps: top at Cameo (foot, 18th pic). A right onto Duncan, then Diamond Heights, back again to within a block or so of where I started down from Christopher Park.

1. Onique stairway, Diamond Heights

2. Onique steps

3. Onique Lane

4. Onique Lane

5. Opalo steps, Gold Mine to Diamond Hts. Shopping Center

6. West edge of Christopher Park, Diamond Heights, down into Glen Canyon

A leisurely walk uphill from the first through sixth Visitacion Valley Greenways and up into McLaren Park was a pleasant one not done in a while.

Last time I did this, was rather put off by a drunk-acting dude on the T-metro who (without paying his fare) proceeded to sit on the floor by the door (and near me) yelling random offensive epithets, including the N-word, armed with a spray container of whipped cream and a banana. Though some other passengers thought this quite funny, I felt the conductor (at the other end of the car) should've called the cops to get the guy ejected as he was loudly aggressive, obviously far from sober, and you can't be certain someone like this is gonna be harmless. So this turned me off that particular route for a while. Sure, I complained on MUNI's website but got no response. The Sunnydale is the last stop for the T-line, a few blocks walk to the neighborhood shopping street, Leland, and the first of six delightful Greenways that stairstep up the hill.

The first of these miniparks opens off the main street at Leland and Peabody, up to Raymond, with more people just hangin' here than in the higher Greenways. First pic: just outside the first one.

The second, completed in 2008, is the Community Garden Greenway, Raymond to Arleta. The garden is fenced and locked but easily viewed (second pic).

Walk alongside the garden to the third, my favorite, the Herb Garden Greenway (Arleta to Teddy) with its tiered planters and short stairway (pics 3, 4, 5).

The fourth is the Children's Garden Greenway, Teddy to Campbell, a small playground at the foot and a short stairway and benches at the top (pics 6, 7, 8).

The fifth is the Agriculture Lot Greenway, Campbell to Tucker. This garden is also kept locked but easy to admire through the fence (pic 9).

Continuing to McLaren Park, turned left on Tioga a half block or so to Delta. Up Delta to Wilde, and left on Wilde to Ervine, a few blocks.

The trail into the park curls up from Ervine. The stairway (57 steps, pic 14) doesn't start until partway up the winding trail so you can't see it from the trailhead. At the top are some benches, two of the Philosopher's Way musing station plaques (15th pic), and a view across the valley to San Bruno Mountain.

This area has picnic tables (south side of Mansell) and parking space just off Visitacion Ave. To walk back down into Vis Valley, the top of the park's longest stairway (16th pic) can be accessed a little way downhill on Visitacion, out to the west dead-end of Campbell (195 steps).

About the musing stations:

http://www.savemclarenpark.org/SMP4_philosophers.html

I think I've seen all of 'em. Wish more parks had stuff like this (and that somehow the artwork could be protected from vandalism).

Did a few trails north of Mansell (pics 17, 18), enjoying the grasses rippling in the breeze, over to the John F. Shelley stop for the #29 Sunset bus (taken down through the Excelsior neighborhood to the Balboa Park BART).

This wasn't the best time to attempt to hike/take photos in/from Twin Peaks Park (pics 1, 2, 3: 93 Crestline steps into the park) due to strong winds (fourth pic: from the touristy viewplace), so soon descended from Vista Lane (its top at Crestline, fifth pic) to Burnett, about 261 steps.

Burnett is through out to Twin Peaks Blvd. but with no sidewalks along part of it. Twin Peaks Blvd. in the park could also use at least one sidewalk. There are always people walking, jogging, and bicycling here.

From the Blvd. headed downhill a short distance to say hello to Tank Hill Park (a north shoulder of Twin Peaks), just past Mountain Spring (steep, curvy street to the left, pic 6; through to Midtown Terrace), and up the shorter Tank stairs (pic 7) from Clarendon/Twin Peaks Blvd. Tank Hill Park (pic 8) is accessed by stairways only. The west stairs are steeper, down to Belgrave. West a few blocks on Belgrave from here are trailheads for Mount Sutro's Interior Greenbelt Park. Continued to the Pemberton steps from Tank. Along Clarendon and Twin Peaks Blvd. vehicles speed around Tank Hill way too fast. I've always been nervous even crossing at the crosswalk here; yet another place we pedestrians could use speed bumps and skyways. Once across, over to the vehicle dead-end of Crown Terrace to the top of Pemberton Place (211 steps: pic 9), first down its older flight (pics 10, 11, 12), then the longer, newer part (pics 13, 14, 15).

Another scary area for walkers to try to cross is at the foot of Pemberton and Clayton. A skywalk here would be nice to continue the steps from Pemberton through the short Clayton/Corbett garden stairs (36 or so).

A vigorous stairway trek started from 12th Avenue, circling around the Presidio's Mountain Lake and out to the other side of Park Presidio Blvd. where I found my first (nearly) ripe blackberry of the year. The huge lake remediation project is to continue through fall of this year. Some recent info about this I was just reading about:

http://www.presidio.gov/about/Pages/mountain-lake-remediation.aspx Up the 103 steps-and-stepped-boardwalk of the Marine Cemetery Vista/Mountain Lake Trail connector that can be accessed a little way in from the 14th Ave. Gate (first pic).

From the west foot of the Marine Cemetery Vista, up Rob Hill via Battery Caulfield Road to Immigrant Point Overlook where the trailsign is for the Connector Trail that curves down to Lincoln (208 steps: second pic). Soon crossing over Lincoln in cool, refreshing, blowing fog down the sandy trail to the Batteries to Bluffs west trailhead atop Battery Crosby. Lots of greenery and wildflowers up 'n down the 473 steps (pics 3 through 16) where I scored three more earlyberries along the trail.

Out at the east BTB trailhead past Fort Scott (old church, 17th pic) and the Golden Gate Overlook.

Last pic: Golden Gate Overlook area/Coastal Trail, passing by old batteries on my way to the second bridge area bus stop for the #28 19th Ave.-Daly City. Another #28 will take you to Fort Mason.

1. Marine Cemetery Vista Overlook boardwalk

2. Foot of Connector Trail at Lincoln, down from Immigrant Point Overlook

3. West trailhead for the Batteries to Bluffs atop Battery Crosby

4. Batteries to Bluffs west trailhead

5. Batteries to Bluffs Trail down from the westside

6. Batteries to Bluffs swoops down from Battery Crosby

7. View from Batteries to Bluffs' westside

8. Looking east from Batteries to Bluffs west trailhead

9. Batteries to Bluffs steep westside steps

10. Continuing down from the west side

11. Midtrail-ish

12. Batteries to Bluffs midtrail

13. Batteries to Bluffs partway along

14. Looking back towards the westside steps on the Batteries to Bluffs

15. Batteries to Bluffs up the east side

16. Trailmarker for Batteries to Bluffs just before the east trailhead

Today's Lands End hike was a long east-to-west/up-n-downer, beginning with the Lincoln Park steps that still hope for further tilework (52 steps up to a trail just below the golf course's east edge, first pic).

Crossed the vehicle street to the east trailhead for the Coastal Trail/main Lands End Trail (second pic). Renovation of the Eagle's Point Overlook here will commence this fall. They're gonna replace the old wood deck with a new structure.

A little further into the park, you'll ascend around 117 steps (a variety of wood, concrete and logs: pics 3 and 4), at the top of which is the curvy "Painted Rock" stairway back down again (138 or so steps: pics 5, 6, 7) to continue along the sweet-smelling Lands End Trail. Eighth pic: Directions.

Took the 89 connector steps that curve up to the El Camino del Mar Trail. Nearly to the end of the El Camino, just before coming out at the east edge of the upper parking lot overlook, felt the urge to do the steep-n-sandy zigzag trail up to the Fort Miley area that I've long claimed as my own. I shall christen it "Tony's Trail."

It remains unmolested, secluded, enclosed, and I've never encountered anyone else on it at the same time I was. A treat to scramble up again.

At the top (pic 9), it continues south across from the top of the Fort Miley ruins' rooftops; this time no skateboarders or old guys staggering about up there. It leads to the very old "hidden in the woods" stairway starting down from the west edge of the VA Hospital parking lot that I keep going on about, a small strip of dirt trail between the two short flights.

From Fort Miley up again to the VA Hospital's parking lot (just past the cliffedge windsock) to see how the picnic area's looking these days. Both stairways are open for walking and there are beautiful blooms, including California poppies, along the first stairway descended (71 to the railed footbridge, pic 10). The new plantings are lookin' good. Up again with 77 steps for the south stairway (pics 11, 12). This is an inviting, well-designed space to pause on a bench or at one of the picnic tables before tearing yourself away and continuing on.

From the top of the south stairway, you can see the top of the Battle of the Bulge Memorial Trail (about 22 steps) a short distance away that will take you to the west end of the Legion of Honor Museum parking lot. Not feeling inclined to walk through a parking lot if I can help it, beyond the yellow metal auto barrier at the end of the lot is a stairway (47 steps, 13th pic) that connects with the east end of the El Camino del Mar Trail, so back this way.

On the El Camino it was across the wood footbridge and past the top of the connector steps where I'd come up earlier. This part of the hike was a repeat of most of the El Camino. Continued past the foot of Tony's Trail out to the upper parking lot overlook (14th pic) and down its steep stairway (59 steps, 15th pic).

'Round the horn and onto the winding paved walkway to the Sutro Baths Upper Trail from the top down this time, 141 steps (pics 16, 17). This is the westernmost trailhead for the Coastal Trail.

Down the stairs to the cavetop viewspot, watching people cavorting below in the Sutro Baths Ruins area. From here, over to the foot of the old wooden stairway (128 steps, last pic) to climb to the lower parking lot overlook with its viewbenches and the Lands End Lookout gift/coffee shop.

Mount Sutro's lower Historic Trail (Interior Greenbelt Park) begins at Stanyan (across from 17th), where another of those park trail infosigns has been added (first pic), and climbs up through the Interior Greenbelt part of the forest.

Two more new signs have been added at this trailhead: "Quiet please up to the Forest 125' " and "Quiet down to the Street 125' " (it starts off between homes on Stanyan): second pic. This trail's between two others just recently hiked.

The lower Historic winds up 'n around (pics 3 through 6) and connects with the Fairy Gates and Edgewood Trails.

Crossed the road at the end of the Fairy Gates (pic 7) to continue steeply up, past the nursery and onto the short, unmarked Quarry Road Trail. At the end of this is a marker for the upper Historic Trail.

Paused for lunch on the Historic at a favorite rock just off the trail (pics 8 and 9), curving around to the north with the hospital buildings seen below through the trees, and down to the road.

A THEN pic (10): the grand opening of the newly discovered and renovated Historic Trail back in 2007, a free grouphike. This was the way we first reached the trail back then, alongside the tank; now the trailhead looks like this: pic 11.

From here it's a short distance through the permits-only parking lot to descend the attractive woodrailed, wood-and-concrete stairway (135 steps: pics 12 through 16). At the foot, just follow Medical Center Way around from the backs of the hospital buildings out to busy Parnassus.

Several years ago the uppermost Interior Greenbelt Trail into Mount Sutro Forest was a tad more challenging, when I'd pull myself up along the side of a building just before exiting at the Aldea residential area.

This trail's at the top dead-end of Stanyan, a short distance above the Stanyan trailhead for the lower Historic Trail. Upper Stanyan's steep, with sidewalk steps on both sides (pics 1 through 4).

Turning right at Belgrave & Stanyan will take you to a trailhead with old wood posts and a few steps into the forest (pic 5); no trailmarkers at either end. It's steep; you don't want "challenging," bypass this one. Last time I was there, a guy was walking his bike up.

Another trail can be seen here, an offshoot from this one, that veers to the right just behind upper Stanyan homes but then climbs so you're not overly close to their backyards. This was recommended by a fellow hiker a while back and twice trekked by me. But this is rougher than the main one and difficult to follow at times. It does, however, exit partway along the lower Historic Trail. Might this be a possible future trail extension to connect with the LH from the Belgrave trailhead?

But I digress. Partway up the main one, a treelimb across the trail is perfect as a bench. Climb over and continue up, eucalyptus aromatherapy, birdsong, and unspoiled forest surrounding you (pic 6). It zigs by the foot of a residence (pic 7) and comes out (more easily these days) at Behr & Johnstone, with a trailhead-with-marker for the delightful Fairy Gates Trail (pics 8, 9, 10) nearby. Slightly uphill from here is the Aldea Center (11th pic) and trailhead for the East Ridge Trail.

Back down to Clarendon and a block or so to the west to enter the Forest Knolls 'hood at the foot of Christopher, then onto Crestmont. Winding past Devonshire and the "Not a Through Street" signs, to descend the 355 Oakhurst Lane steps (pics 12, 13, 14, 15) to Warren, onto Locksley, and into Garden for the Environment via the short rope-railed garden stairway here. Last pic: west side of Forest Knolls and Sutro Forest.

Started up into Sutro Forest via the 135 Medical Center Way steps (pics 1, 2). This is an attractive public stairway hikers can ascend to the Surge parking lot and from there to the forest's trails. Medical Center Way is the curving road that winds 'round the mountain; the stairway starts at its foot, "hidden" behind hospital buildings. The parking lot at the top of it, however, is permits only and not for public use.

Partway up the steps is an old offshoot wood stairway (15 steps: pic 3) that will take you to a trail behind homes on Edgewood Way. You can follow this all the way to the parking lot (south), but I came out this time near the top of the 149 Farnsworth steps on Edgewood Ave.

Continued to the south dead-end (for cars) of the redbricked street (a couple of blocks) to access the gorgeous Edgewood Trail. Now there's one of those colorful trailsigns I've been seeing lately here too: "Interior Greenbelt Park" (east side of Sutro Forest), with the trail to come noted as "Challenging" (pics 4, 5). This switchbacked beauty is a favorite (pics 6, 7, 8, 9) as is the lower Historic Trail that can be seen below it.

Climbed the Edgewood nearly all the way, changing near the top to the Fairy Gates Trail and onto the guardrailed walkway over to the trailhead for the East Ridge Trail taken to the summit. Pic 10: summit benches. Noticed plenty of bees around here; let's keep it that way. Poison oak warning signs have recently been added to trailmarker posts.

Out to the Historic from the South Ridge, then down the West Ridge Trail (pic 11). The West Ridge is a steep-slidey trail (reminds me of treks up here years ago before serious trailwork was commenced) that could really use a stairway (between the Historic Trail and Crestmont in Forest Knolls). So how 'bout some steps for easier access from Crestmont into the forest as a neighborhood convenience? Same with the roughish trail up from Christopher & Crestmont. Both these trails have trailmarkers starting down from the forest, but not at Crestmont.

Another couple of things to love about trees: They're good to grab hold of when edging down a slippery slope, and exposed roots can be used as stairsteps. It's appreciated that someone has tied a rope to a tree to help one down, but some steps would work better (pic 12: West Ridge Trail down to Crestmont). As in just zig some wood steps in between the trees…

Wandered over to the area at the end of Crestmont where many neighbors would prefer there not be new apartment building construction (pix 13, 14, 15), then down the Oakhurst stairway, 355 or so steps to Warren from Crestmont (pic 16). From the foot of Oakhurst at Warren down to Garden for the Environment between Locksley and Seventh Ave. is a few steep blocks (last pic).

Part of the Presidio's Ecology Trail can be admired from the bike lane on Arguello (first pic). Forty-five wood steps descend at Inspiration Point Overlook, the Ecology's west trailhead (pix 2, 3, 4). This part of the trail curls down around the grassy hillside, east through a short stand of tall forest, and continues to the top of the newer stairway (69 wood steps, pics 5 through 10) that will take you to El Polin Spring's ponds, picnic tables, rustic benches, and boardwalk.

Headed to one of the picnic tables at the largest pond and there was mama duck with eight babies (11th pic).

"My" long-loved willow tree (pix 12, 13, 14) is healthy-looking, still faithfully watching over the renovated little valley. Though the older stairway has been covered up, the newer connector trail-ramp up to Mountain Lake Trail (15th pic) is looking better now than when first opened to the public, the plants doing well. A lot of work went into improving this already beautiful spot and it definitely shows. If you love birds and their songs, this is an excellent place (!) to spend some quality time.

Up the accessible connector on the east side, at the trailhead picked up a four-page (with as many color photos) educational brochure left by the Presidio Trust: "Coyotes in the Presidio" with some interesting info: "…feed primary on rodents," "… typically mate with the same partner for life," "… found in every state except Hawaii" (etc.)

Continuing east (last pic: eastside trees), shortly connecting with Lover's Lane and up to the Presidio Blvd. Gate, admiring the white blackberry blossoms, the various trees, and the wild radish blooms, a favorite flower.